Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Here's good news to travelers

Dubai: Visit visa-holders no longer need to leave the country to amend
the status of their visa to a residency permit, the Ministry of Interior
revealed on Sunday.

Brigadier Dr. Rashid Sultan Al Khadar, spokesman for the Naturalization,
Residency and Ports department at the Ministry of the Interior, said that under
resolution 377 of 2014, visa-holders of all types can modify the status of
their entry and residency permits while staying in the country.

“Customers will be able to amend the status of their entry permits
electronically through a few quick and user-friendly steps,” he said. “As a
result, visitors will not need to leave the country, instead updating their
visa status and paying all the necessary fees while in the UAE.”

Comparing the resolution to the previous rule, Brig Al Khadar said:
“Earlier, if a person, while in the UAE on a visit visa, happens to find a job,
he or she will have had to exit the UAE to amend residency status. This is no
longer the case. The same applies to spouses of residents or anyone wishing to
amend the terms of their entry permits.”

He denied media reports that one-month visit visas will be granted an
extension and clarified that people who come on one-month visit visa, transit
visa or tourist visa can immediately apply for another visa once they leave the
country.

An official from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners
Affairs (GDRFA) said the decision will help those wishing to amend their visa
status without the burden of travel. “The resolution is applicable to every
type of entry permit,” he said.

Brig Al Khadar said that the decision seeks to save time and effort.

“Companies and visitors should submit their applications to renew the
status of their permits before they expire to avoid any violations,” he said,
adding that “people can refer to any of the immigration offices or ports of
entry in the UAE for the services”.